Does coaxial cable type make a difference?

DustyMonkey

recently moved my TV across the room and needed to get a longer coaxial cable. I was using the basic one the cable company installed a few years back. My local HD channels looked GREAT before. I purchased a 25 foot Philips coaxial cable that said "Optimized for HDTV". I'm getting all my channels, including the local HD channels, but the picture on my HD channels doesn't seem as good. It seems soft.

The only other thing I changed is I moved the TV closer to where I sit; I sat further away before. Would that have anything to do with it?

Could it be the coaxial cable ?

gossamer

Are you using a cable box? Are the HD channels letterboxed? If they are, then you're not watching true HD.

__________________
Living Room:
Panasonic TH-50PZ700U Plasma
Scientific-Atlanta SA8300HD DVR
Sony PlayStation 3 80GB
Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD
Toshiba SD-4700 SD DVD
Apple Mac mini, 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo
Onkyo TX-SR706 Receiver
Paradigm Cinema 110 Speaker System
Pioneer CLD-3070 LaserDisc Player
Quasar VHQ760 VCR
Bedroom:
Panasonic TC26LX50 26-inch LCD
Scientific-Atlanta SA8300HD DVR
Panasonic DMP-BD30K Blu-ray
Panasonic DMRES15 DVD Recorder
JVC HR-S8000U S-VHS

DustyMonkey

They're in true HD. They just look softer and not as detailed as before.

tipstir

Don't buy this: Ultra Coax


Buy this: Quad-shield rated at 2.3GHz


Quad-shield is as close you can get to what the cable company will use for HDTV, High Speed Broadband and digital phone. If your picture is weak still you might need a distributor amp to boast your signal from the where the coax drop line goes to your box from the street pole. That you would need to call your cable company to come out for that. They can test your signal for HD quality.

VideeO

How far from the set were you sitting before?
How far from the set are you sitting now?

IGExpandingPan

You can often talk to your cable company about getting their cable. They often provide it for free.

tipstir

Cable company started to charge for house calls, so make sure you have some sort of in-house service with them. Can get costly. They have the 2.3GHz Quad Coax RG6, their Digital Ends are better though. Digital SAT uses 3.0GHz Quad Coax though you don't need that for Digital HDTV Cable.

Loves2Watch

Misinformation!

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Scottnot

You've got to give tipstir credit for one thing - he's consistent.

Has never posted anything accurate, helpful or informative.

He's a blight to the forum.

tipstir

No it not... COX Communications charges well in this state and RI to come out to do any work. To repair is another story. If it's your fault then you pay for the repair. But I am on in-house service plan. I get that for free because I got everything they offer.

I don't know about Comcast, Charter an etc.. They might still offer free service. You're suppose to be able to go to the local office and pick-up free digital HDTV boxes and extra cables if you need. That's free. But to get the Tech into your home they started charging for that service.

As for the RG6 Quad that's what the house is running here. I know there has been good number of debates on the subject matter but my point is right you need that to run High Speed Internet 40mbs or higher, Digital Phone (VOIP) and HDTV carried on 8 or more sets on the house. Finally all 8 connections are now active. All RG59 have been replaced. I am not doing the work, I could but let Cox do it.

VideeO

Wrong!!!

Total misinformation and BS!!!!

glennb1

Can believe he replied - No it not.....

mariaR

the guy at my radio shack told us to use monster cables

Loves2Watch

If you have money to burn, go right ahead. You can purchase high quality reliable cables that work just as well for a fraction of the cost at places like www.monoprice.com.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

jdcnosse

I'd never go with Monster Cables. All they are are the same cable as the other guys, they just have a "bigger" brand to make you pay more.

According to the cable guy (Charter Communications) when he came out, we get to keep any cable they use to hook up our system.

Yeap, on Charter anything that deals with a service technician coming to your house involves at least a $30 fee.